Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-27
All Changes in the Weather Due To the
sun.

But for the prevailing sentiment In regard to
the influence OF the moon on the weather the sub
ject would hardly seem worthy OF our attention
The belief has the sanction of antiquity from re-
mote ages TIL the present time the world at large
has sworn by the moon, and even so great a man
as Herschel is quoted supporting the idea so at
first 1t may seem presumptuous in anyone to
oppose. and more particularly to make light Of so
venerable subject. But, 1t is said, truth is
mighty and Will prevail The world has had
many kindred absurdiaes. Take for example, the
rotundity OF the earth. In ancient times even the
greatest men then living, and the peers OF any
who have ever lived, believed and Taught that the
earth was great plane. The idea OF the earth be.
Ing round did not once enter their heads and when
majority OF the most learned were still on the side
OF the plane, and opposed to the globe idea
we can never know anything about a subject
until We have the facts. From various facts
observed by him Columbus Is credited with being
the hrst TO conceive OF the idea that the world was
round Every child knows of the story OF his
sacrifice In order TO prove It, and that he was
zeaiously opposed by the most learned men OF his
DAY. Now the most learned men not only know
that the world Is round but all the school
KNOW IT, AS the world was in 1892 in regard to
the geography OF the earth, SO IT. was up to 1870
sand Win the great majority even up to date) in
regard Othe atmosphere OF the globe The physical
Biographies OF to-day even continue 10 teach the
most aoouru IDEAS la regard TO the meteorological
conditions OF the earth, as absurd as were the
geographical ideas OF 1892 And herein Is the cause
Oh TINS ignorance of our weather system: the map,
when Is the flrst and only medium whereby facts
forth, is almost entirely ignored. Those who do
know something about the map are comparatively
lew In number beside those equally learned, who
40 not know anything about it. Nothing proves
this so well as the articles on the subject that
almost diy meet the eye; and the very fact that
this moon idea was not exploded within ten years
after the map had been established Is another
PROOF OIL the general neglect this great illumi-
hator In argument person will sometimes say,
the atmospheric changes? There Is no more con-
nectl0n between the tides and the atmosphere
than between the moon and insanity. The great
source vi atmospheric changes Is the heat power
OF the suns These changes are caused by heat.
Inc neat power OF the moon Is practically zero,
ana amounts TO nothing in the case. The move
ment OF the earth Oh its axis il constantly pre-
sehting new surface TO the heat OF the sun. This
neat, irrespective OF the maximum heat at the
equator, becomes concentrated on certain points;
at these points the slows are generated. The
'hlgh Is the opposite OF the SLOW" The atmosphere
mas an inward movement along the surface OF the
earth toward "low." What the height OF this
movement Is we do not exactly know. The "cir-
rus Clouds, which of all cloud formation move at
tue highest elevation, are by good authority said
sometimes TO be 900 feet above the surface Of
INT eifth, While another good authority says from
iooOo To 5000 feet. But The exact height matters
itte. we VIII term IL all, from the nigh" TO the
low, surface movement. Above this is another
OF upper current, part Of the same current with
another direction, from the "low" TO the 'high,"
hich causes the counter movement OF high and
lghG cirrus clouds, sometimes seen InJviug In an
opposite direction from the heavier surface clouds
that are moving toward the center, 'low." BY
this means, in addition to the other currents the
atmosphere Of our globe is we'll stirred up and
purified. This movement is constantly going on,
never ceaSlnS The cenIerS or highs ana COWS
are scattered all over the globe; perhaps on an
average or some 2, 600 miles on centers. But then
lnere Is no regularity about 1t; We only take 1000
luIieS as q general average. All over the earth,
Whtfe there Is a good, well-deveoped "high,- the
say Will be clear and the temperature rea-
lively cool; wherever the slow" prevails, the
say Will be more or less ClOuded, and to
warm and to the north, relatively cold because OF
the uiIferent winds thereby engendered-"lOwr
being the agent that causes the movement OF air
to"aru III. BY these winds The clouds also con-
cehtrateu anu precipitation caused In the first
place. IL Is not at all probable That the moon has
any influence upon the meteorological conditions
OF the earth, for In order to produce these cOndi-
lions great neat Is required The direct heat from
the sun Is all-SuiI1clent, out the mere reflected
light from the moon is practically. In this respect
Oh no value. But provided the moon had any
power 10 effect these changes. to any sensible per-
son u "Old seem queer Kind of q moon that
WouIu, as IL passed along on It's course nave, from
nour 10 hour, different and different effect upon
the surface OF the earth; queer moon that, on
the same night, would have one effect over New
England, another over the Lake region and quite
iuotntf ELECT over the South Atlantic states: and
between The borders or the Atlantic ana Pacific a
great variety, from clear cool and windy, to warm,
cloudy ana rainy. The changes OF the weather
are caused by neat, and by heat alone. The mega.
i've influence OF the Goodness OF the earth, with
OUT Tue neat power or the sum- OF course has its In.
nuence, but without the heat OF the sun this
would remain evidently without change so 1t Is
not incorrect TO Say that all the changes OF the
weather are due TO the heat OF the sun. The
power OF ne moon In this respect is practically
nothing, therefore its influence to effect the met
eoroloslcaI changes Oh the earth are as nothing.